Key Terms
South Asia
Described as "unity in diversity." At least 20 dominant languages; 200+ basic dialects. Most countries classified as "de
Dowry (precolonial)
Originally a self-help institution managed by women. Dowry (colonial): became a tool for covering up economically devast
Indian independence movement
Spanned ~90 years; ended August 15, 1947.
Pakistan
After India-Pakistan partition 3. Bangladesh: independent nation-state in 1971
Definition
An obligatory system of graded social stratification based on a person's birth or ancestry; morally codified in Manusmri
India
Gender-reassignment surgeries performed on intersex children. Intersex traits treated as "disorders." Surgery performed
Nepal
Intersex children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds subject to irreversible IGM practices.
Bangladesh
Dalit women, women with disabilities, elderly women, Rohingya refugee women, and ethnic minority women face multiple INT
Endogamy
Marrying only within one's caste. Each caste category historically aimed for isolation from others through this practice
Today
Stigma around intercaste marriages remains strong; families strongly discourage cross-caste relationships. Honor killing
Subaltern
A person from a colonized population who is of low socioeconomic status, displaced to the margins of society, with littl
Result
1.9 million people became "stateless" -- stripped of Indian citizenship for failing to produce adequate documents.
Additional barriers for rural women
Legal illiteracy; limited knowledge of birth registration; inability to obtain birth certificates for children.
Contrast
In some countries, "gender reveal" parties celebrate parenthood; in India, finding out the sex was weaponized against gi
FGM/C
Surgeries to alter external female genitalia; may include clitorectomy, removing and/or suturing the labia.